ilo bistro

I am usually hesitant to go anywhere semi-upscale. This restaurant had a small but comforting building with nice Christmas decorations. The mixed drinks are very well made and not crazily strong. The rockfish was cook to perfection, and the hanger steak meal made my wife go to heaven for a few seconds lol. Great experience all around with a nice genuine experience of food made with love. Thanks for the wonderful experience ILO!!!!!

Exceptional all around, every dish and cocktail masterfully crafted and presented, top-notch service in a romantic atmosphere. Started with Fox on the Mountain and Cherry Batanga cocktails - both excellent and well-balanced, Fox particularly unique and cohesive, a must-try. Sourdough and salted butter was predictably wonderful, and then duck rillette, savory loukomades, and roasted baby beets were all fantastic, can't go wrong - rillette was perfectly fried and came with a lovely sauce that seemed to include some sesame in addition to the menu description, loukomades were a stellar combination of sweet dough and honey with savory and salty prosciutto, and beets were a complementary match with endives, candied hazelnut, and whipped goat cheese. "What Would Will Drink?" was an interesting order, aquavit was a fun and surprisingly smooth try of something we don't often get, and paired well with unfiltered Basque cider, which wasn't overly dry or sweet as some ciders can be. Tokai Maru is the pièce de résistance of this cocktail menu, expertly crafted and balanced in every way, with delightful notes of chocolate, banana, and date. Chateau Célébration and Lil' Collins mini cocktails were an amusing and delicious pair. Gnocchi and grilled half chicken entrees were both outstanding - the massive, pillowy gnocchi were wonderfully receptive to their accompaniments, and the chicken was exquisitely tender and delectable, one of, if not the, best chicken dishes we've ever had. For dessert, the apple crisp meringue ricotta semifreddo and date cake with chocolate ice cream both made for a marvelous way to conclude an amazing meal. Easily one of our best restaurant experiences in Hampton Roads, can't wait to go back!

Every dish was absolutely outstanding, beautifully prepared, and full of flavor. The atmosphere had a refined touch, making it a perfect spot for a date. The food did take a little while to come out, but it was truly worth the wait—it was delicious!

Update: Jackson provided excellent customer service, and I love the new menu items. The tuna crudo was fantastic so was the chickpea salad. I also LOVED the matcha cream puff. Love the new items keep it up! Talk about phenomenal. William displays upmost professionalism, knowledge, and treats his mixology as a true craft. The oysters were perfectly juicy and salty, the sourdough bread! I wish I could buy a loaf. Softened butter made the appetizer perfection. Cocktails were beautifully displayed and were beyond delicious. OH and the decor and ambiance?! Fine dinning to the highest level, the nicest place I have been to in Norfolk so far. Only comment was the pappardelle was overly salty lacking flavor other than salt, I would have preferrer more seasoning and less salt since the ricotta salata is already salty. Besides that everything was to perfection, thank you Chef, thank you William and all staff.

Best halibut I’ve ever had in my life. Lovely and inviting atmosphere, super helpful and friendly staff. One of the most beautiful and delicious nights out I’ve had in ages, I can’t wait to come back!

It’s taken quite a while to write this review because it’s both great and a let down. The food was great, and some of the best cooked fish I’ve had in the area but the front of house left a lot to be desired. To start, our reservation was pushed back by 20 minutes due to the previous table running over (which we later found out was because of the time to get our food). After being seated, we were quickly greeted by friendly staff and were informed that roughly half of the menu items were unavailable and a number of others were in limited quantities. It took exactly 30 mins from being sat to receiving our round of drinks with an old fashioned having to be reordered because it was never made. It took another 15 minutes for our appetizers to arrive (45 mins) and again, only half of the appetizers initially appeared. Although our waiter was apologetic and remembered the order, it still took another 10 minutes for the rest to come out between managing his other tables. I would highly recommend the tartare for any starter and this one did not disappoint. After our appetizers, it took another 45 minutes for our entrees to come out (90 minutes from seating) which although frustrating was worth the wait. Overall, the food is excellent, and we certainly plan to try again in the near future; however, the front of house left a lot to be desired and was frustrating to experience at that price point.

Pricy but worth it! The chicken is literally the best chicken I’ve had in my life. The yuzu, mint, and cilantro gave it a unique and complex flavor. TRY THE CHICKEN. The Tuna crudo was also great. I will definitely be coming here again.

I went here with my family for my wife's birthday. We loved Voila, the restaurant that was here before so we were very eager to try Ilo. We walk past it all the time and notice it is almost always packed! The interior is excellent. It is definitely a small space but it they make it feel spacious. You never feel too close to the other tables. Very cozy and light vibe. The food was incredible! I had the crab spaghetti. I could tell right off the bat that the noodles were homemade. The tomatoes, huge chunks of crabmeat, and breadcrumbs on top really made the dish complex from a texture perspective and delicious. My wife had the chicken and, as others have said, it's possibly the best chicken in existence. I have no clue how they get it so tender while the outside is so deliciously crispy! Would definitely recommend making a reservation!

My partner and I had the pleasure of dining at Ilo Bistro this evening. We had been loosely planning on it for some time, ever since I'd discovered that Chef Close had opened his own restaurant after leaving the Glass Light (where we had both had the privilege of participating in a Chef's tasting menu of his, and found it all to be utterly delectable). The restaurant's ambiance is incredible - small, not too loud, but the tables don't leave you feeling crowded or like you have too much space - they are perfect. As for the food: mostly, I was looking forward to the grilled octopus, which I knew from past experience would be very tasty. In truth: absolutely *everything* was excellent. Starters: Grilled Octopus Duck Rillettes Mains: Gnocchi w/Kale pesto & and winter squash Halibut w/cauliflower & mashed Yukon gold potatoes Dessert: Ricotta semifreddo w/poached peaches and torched Italian meringue Drinks: Willamette Valley Pinot Noir (Evesham Wood) Greek Cabernet Sauvignon/Agiorgitiko blend (Wine Art Estate Techni Alipias) Alligator Tears No photos, as I prefer to not have my phone out at dinner. But the experience was one I'd happily both repeat and recommend to others. Looking forward to our next visit to dine with Ilo Bistro. Special thanks to our attentive server, Édouard. Absolutely flawless service. Merci beaucoup!

Utter perfection. No notes lol Had to have the grilled shrimp and melon special to start. It was fresh, crisp, and flavorful. Made with charentais melon, yuzu kosho grilled shrimp, ampuis peppers, crispy prosciutto, the most delish melon gazpacho, and garden herbs. For the rest of the small plates, we had the homemade sourdough with butter-the oil on it was so good! The charred broccolini topped with pecorino cheese, boquerones, Caesar dressing, and fennel bread crumbs had just the right grilled taste. The heirloom tomato tartine!!!! Fantastic!!!! If you're going to have anything, get that and the special!!!! I was already getting full but the entrees were on the way Gnocchi - asparagus, mixed mushroom, manzanilla sherry, parmigiano reggiano. If you like umami, this one is for you. The size of the actual gnocchi was also a bit bigger than I expected lol Halibut - haricot vert, fava bean, creamer potato, spinach, sauce vin blanc. Loved the sauce on this one, and the potatoes were buttery! A1 French cooking ‍ Hanger Steak - corn, Japanese eggplant, baby tomatoes, herb gremolata, roasted tomato jus. This dish was so refreshing! The color on it was beautiful from the temperature of the steak to the vegetables. It wasn't heavy on the stomach and the flavor was unique. Can't forget dessert! We had a matcha cream puff. Cream puff was good, it was lacking a little bit in the matcha department. But still good. I think it would be good beginner matcha if someone was just starting their journey with the flavor lol. The star of the sweets was the Semifreddo. The flavors inside were lemon and berries, almonds added texture, and the topping was reminiscent of a toasted marshmallow. Just exquisite. We were well taken care of. Anytime we had a question, they were answered in detail. We even got new plates and silverware after small plates and entrees! Staff was attentive. And on top of that, being able to park in a lot in craziness of Botetourt's cobblestone is a score in and of itself

The ambiance and cozy, intimate setting are where this restaurant truly shines--it's easy to see why it generates so much buzz. Unfortunately, beyond that, the experience fell short for me. The cocktails were outstanding in terms of flavor, but they took over 30 minutes to arrive--understandable given the small bar and single bartender, yet still notable. The pasta and small plates were enjoyable, though consistently over-salted. The large entrées were well-executed in terms of doneness (especially if you prefer your meat rare), but the proteins themselves lacked any real flavor--some to the point of being difficult to eat. Ironically, while the accompaniments were aggressively salted, that seasoning didn't seem to carry over to the main components where it was needed most. The dessert was very good. Probably best part of the meal. The waiter we had was awesome though. Super nice guy.

I took my girlfriend here for her birthday and it was 5/5 overall. The waiter was very well versed on the food they were serving and could answer any questions about it. The food quality was great and while some things sounded like they may pair oddly, it all tasted amazing and the flavors all made sense. It was a great experience, but my only qualm would be the amount of parking they had.

From the moment I walked in I knew I was in for a delectable experience. From their cheeky cocktail menu to their diverse menu, Ilo made a spontaneous night out a night to remember. I had the Scallop Crudo which was a smaller dish special, and I'll be thinking about its flavor profile for a while. The Hanger Steak with potatoes frites and creamy spinach is cooked to absolute perfection, especially on flavor and texture. To wrap up the night I finished with the Date Cake and a "Fox on the Mountain" cocktail, and I couldn't have made a better dessert and cocktail pairing. It painted a beautiful scene of walking through the forest with the crisp air gently wrapping around you, sunlight peeking through the tree brush. I had been wanting to try this place for a very long time, and it did not disappoint in the slightest. Can't wait to come back :)

I love this place. I have been twice. The menu is not necessarily the largest, but it is creative. More importantly, the food is quality. The service is always great and the staff are always very welcoming. It's a cute intimate neighborhood bistro with that being said I strongly recommend making a reservation. They have limited seating and can fill up pretty quickly. The prices are moderate so this is a spot that I like to enjoy every once in a while.

My favorite place around me so far! Will come here time & time again for celebrations!

Were the yelp reviews right? Sure they were! Had a wonderful romantic anniversary dinner here. It had the bones of what used to be Voila! Restaurant but Ilo Bistrobiadts its own delicious food served by friendly staff! We had bread (it's an appetizer!) and stuffed calamari. The calamari was flavorful (hint of anchovies?) snd cooked to perfection, crispy but tender not chewy. For entrees we ordered the special of the evening: pork chop. And my beau ordered rack of lamb. They were both perfectly seasoned, cooked to perfection. The desserts were so delicious as well: a large cream puff with pistachio cream served with honey I d cream! And a date and chocolate chip sort of blondie, served with delicious house made ice cream akin to Dulce de leche. Love love love, will definitely go back to try other entrees and desserts!

like an oasis - extremely good food at a good price, and not just the normal fare. This corner used to be Voila - I never had the pleasure to eat there but it almost always looked full when i'd run by. Ilo took over this space at the beginning of the year if i had to guess, but the atmosphere of the corner space here has totally changed. from the exterior paint to the decor to the color palate to the personnel, this space is as well defined an eating experience as many you'd see in large metro areas like DC or NYC. The staff is courteous and professional, never once stuttering or stammering over specials or odd foody type questions myself or my family would ask. We started with drinks at the bar (which seats probably 10 if we're generous) while waiting for our table ot be cleared as people were still enjoying their dessertifs. excellent selection by the bartenders and didn't miss a beat as we transferred from the bar to the table which was well set by the staff. we ordered a fine sampling of the small plates - we actually ordered the tartare but it got lost in the mix (we were putting in orders at the turn - i think this place does two turns a night) - and they came out within 15 minutes. Phenomenal quality on all three, an excellent mix of salty and sweet in each, with an array of textures you'd expect at a place with double the staff. From my count, maybe 12 folks working on a Saturday but we never felt like we were waiting long. As you can see, we each got a different meal, which were all equally phenomenal. If there's one thing I'll say on the plates here, you truly can't go wrong. there's not a single aspect on any dish (i tried every component of all) that could've been better. I'm a huge Legrand stan, but this gives it a run for its money both in terms of quality and creativity of plating and ingredients. As we got into our mains, we realized the tartare had yet to come. We actually ended up receiving it almost as a dessert appetizer, for which every member of our party wanted to try despite having eaten a whole entree. As i mentioned at the outset, we've eaten a lot of tartare throughout the world but this was clearly French-country inspired with the flavor palate and as well executed as any French restaurant I had the pleasure of eating in on the continent. Phenomenal. Altogether - service was great and attentive, even with a minor miss; food was fantastic and the best i've had here in a while; and atmosphere was great (if a little loud, I'd suggest copying what Legrand did and adding some sound-dampening panels to the roof as it appears they're already on the walls). 10/10 recommend for anyone looking for a great, quality dining experience. Can't wait to see what they do at the season's change.

Truly a phenomenal meal! The space is small, cozy, and intimate. I love a restaurant with less than 10 tables. The low glow from candles light, the posh french interior, everything was perfect! Service was so great! Everyone was so kind. I was in from out of town for work and dining alone which can be awkward times but the staff made me feel comfortable and eve gave me good recommendations for coffee and pastries the next morning! And wow where do I even start with the food! Oysters are so fresh! I gobbled down 6 myself. Cocktail and wine selection is great and the staff helped me navigate through the list. I got the lamb ragu and pappardelle and I still dream of it to this day! Simply amazing Lastly I finished up with an amazing cream puff ring dessert thing (can't remember the name!!) which was light enough after the ragu but still satisfied the sweets cravings. I can't wait to come back at my next visit to Norfolk!

Amazing food with amazing cocktails. Norfolks hidden gem tucked back in the Freemason district. Fresh and authentic

This is hands down one of the best restaurant I've been to in Hampton Roads since I moved back here 10 years ago. The food was inventive, well-seasoned, and just plain delicious. Wine and cocktails were also great. The ambience makes you feel like you're in a larger city known for good restaurants. We sat at the bar and the bartender was delightful too. Really can't wait to return.

All time favorite spots - Food & drinks are phenomenal and service is top notch. It's a vibe

Wow! Great to have this so close to Ghent! The food is first class; we had fresh and clean oysters and the loukomades with gourmet ham, leg of lamb with English peas, and perfectly cooked flounder. Sasha and John are pro servers. The space is completely renovated, bright and attractive, and typically bistro loud. Love it. We will be back often.

First time catching a reservation here. Tyler, our server was great. Food was delicious and am excited to come back and try more of the small plates. It's a quaint restaurant so it can get a little loud, but we had an early reservation so it wasn't too noisy.

Exciting new restaurant in the Freemason area of Norfolk. We had a reservation and were sat promptly. The service was excellent and the food all came out on a timely manner! It's a small restaurant and small bar but very cozy feeling. All the food was cooked and prepared perfectly we will definitely be visiting again!

When we saw Ilo was opening, we knew we had to try it! The culinary minds that created both the food and the cocktails deserve all the praise I can fathom in this review. When you see Ilo on the street, it's unassuming. But the second you step in, it feels like you're in a local hole in the wall in New York City. The tables are fully booked with people dressed up and enthusiastically engaged in conversation, rather than the normal couples sitting across from each other on their phones you see at many restaurants. As we sat down, we received a menu that you knew had been hand picked and curated for the evening with food that was high quality. We ordered the Tuna Crudo (life changing, I'm still thinking about it), the fried duck, and the broccolini to start. Never did I ever think I'd be writing a review talking about how much I loved broccolini! Our entrees were the flounder and the butternut squash gnocchi. The gnocchi was so delicious and literally melted in your mouth- while the flounder was layered with so much flavor that I literally cleaned the plate. I highly recommend- HIGHLY- recommend stopping at Ilo for your next fancy meal. You will not regret it.

I went with a friend and we had their home-made bread and butter, a salad, calamari, and gnocchi to die for. We then had the blond brownie with homemade ice cream. Everything was delicious, just delicious. Our waiter was fantastic.

Went here for my boyfriend's birthday and we had a great time!!! We bought out almost the whole menu we wanted to try everything. All of the food and drinks were great. Our server was super attentive despite it being super busy. The vibe here is super cool, dark, and cozy. We want to come here for all of our special occasions!!!

Amazing food and experience. You must give it a try!!! Definitely make a reservation.

This place is the real deal! Lovely small room with a great bar, attentive and personable staff, and delicious food and drink. We moved to Norfolk this past summer and have slowly been trying the well-regarded fine dining restaurants in the area (LeGrand, Crudo Nudo, Blanca, etc), and the meal we had at ILO a few days ago stands out as perhaps the best. We went on a whim and didn't have a reservation, so we sat at the bar and were very comfortable - not at all cramped-feeling despite the small footprint of the restaurant. For cocktails, we had their take on a Manhattan -- I find Manhattans a bit too sweet sometimes, and this was a drier and more complex version with anise notes -- and the complex and delicious 'Infinity Pool,' which we were told had just been dreamt up the previous day. We also asked for dry martinis -- they gave several options for gins, and we were thoroughly happy with our Tanqueray 10 rendition. The bartender was great to chat with, and overall the drinks spoke to a combination of real creativity and great understanding of the classics. No style over substance here. For food we had sourdough and butter (which is sort of hard to mess up, but it was absolutely delicious fresh lightly-grilled bread), broccolini (probably the dish that impressed me least, though the broccolini was cooked perfectly and the cheese/breadcrumb/lemon all made sense, there was something ever-so-slightly imbalanced about it.. maybe too much cheese?), and the puppy drum with beans and greens (I thought this was a triumph - delicious sauce, perfectly cooked beans.) For dessert we had a blondie/brownie-ish piece of date cake with icecream that was impressively restrained in its sweetness. An unusually cohesive dining experience, which is impressive from a new restaurant, from the ambiance and decor (it does get a bit loud in such a small room - someone hard of hearing might find it difficult, but I thought it contributed to a great overall vibe), to the service, food, and drink. ILO seems to know what it is, and it's really executing its vision beautifully.

I felt like I was stepping into a NYC restaurant when we walked in. Great decor, super cute bar. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Excellent cocktails and superb recommendations on wine to go with our meals. GET THE LOUKOMADES. Food was all delicious. The space is a little loud, but we still had an awesome experience.

Although I had a réservation, confirmed by text, it was lost upon arrival. The restaurant is extremely loud with many hard surfaces and dreadful music reminding me of roadtrips from the 70's. The decor was pleasant enough. The wine sélection for white wines was limited and not to my taste. The menu itself is limited and none of our choices were outstanding. The food was acceptable but nothing more. The service was not particularly attentive but not awful. Neither I, nor anyone from my party will be returning.i

Great food. Upscale at a fair price. Service is always wonderful. The staff are all very knowledgeable and willing to recommend. Cozy spot but fun atmosphere.

Compliments to the chef! Excellent food! Quaint and warm location in the historic Freemason district. Sasha the bartender is knowledgeable and amplified our experience with her carefully curated cocktails. We particularly loved the flounder and hangar steak dish, those potatoes - perfection. Do not miss out on the Paris breast? dessert. We are in total support of the success of this restaurant. My husband says it is probably the best meal we have had in Hampton Roads! Especially loved the postcard that came when the check was presented. And there's a mail slot next to the exit - they offer to mail out your postcard for you! Everything about this restaurant.. well thought, from the heart. Excited to go back again! Highly recommend.

I absolutely loved this restaurant. The food, beverages, service, and atmosphere were phenomenal and deliberately perfect. The depth of flavor and creativity in Chef Zack's dishes are amazing. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious and super intriguing. The wine and cocktail programs are brilliant. The service was impeccable, and the restaurant itself has been designed to create a cozy but sophisticated ambiance. Ilo has my absolute highest recommendation. Absolutely go here. We can't wait to go back. Big thanks to Chef and his all-star team! The Freemason neighborhood and the city of Norfolk is so lucky to have this place.

My family and I had one of the best meals we've ever experienced tonight at Ilo Bistro. Our starters were amazing as were the entrees. The wine pairings were first rate. Our waiter was very attentive and helpful throughout the night. If you want one of the best dining experiences of your life--go to Ilo Bistro.

Fantastic Dinner! The shrimp appetizer was to die for! Food and drinks were top notch. We 100% will return. Don't miss this true Gem

Incredible food and a great overall dining experience. Do yourself a favor and book immediately. Did not try anything we did not love. Savory Lukamades, beef tartar, and lamb ragu were standouts. Lucky to have Zach and his crew.

Went in on their 3rd night of business and had an amazing experience and I'm usually skeptical of brand new places. You know, it takes time to work out the kinks. There were no kinks. The food was incredible (highly recommend the halibut) the service was spot on, and the cocktails were thoughtful and carefully crafted. Everything on the menu looked and sounded delicious so I'll be back. I want to try it all! The best part was that the prices are reasonable. I have a new favorite place!!!